Consultants hired for DeKalb library expansion

DeKALB – The DeKalb Library Board formally approved the contracts of Nagle Hartray and Owner Services Group as the architect and owner’s representative, respectively, for the library’s expansion project Wednesday.

The two firms will be paid a percentage of the total cost of the project, said library Director Dee Coover. She said she is using the estimated amount of $25.3 million, which includes the cost of construction, land costs and attorney fees.

Assuming the project sticks to that $25.3 million price, Owner Services Group will receive $581,268, or 2.29 percent of the total cost. Nagle Hartray will receive $1.96 million for its work, or 7.73 percent.

As board member Al Genis pointed out, the library will have spent $2.5 million on services other than construction.

Coover said the total amount of money for consultants is less than the percentage the city of DeKalb is paying for the new police station and other projects in the state.

“At this point, we’re certainly under what is the norm,” Coover said.

Nagle Hartray Architecture was the firm that designed the original plans for the library’s 46,000-square-foot expansion.

“I think this is a real milestone for us as well as for you,” said Don McKay, a principal for Nagle Hartray. “We’ve been working together for five years. Now the fun is really going to start.”

Coover said Owner Services Group provides the library with construction expertise it does not have. Coover said it is undecided whether the library will hire a professional fundraiser for the project. She added they have to hire a construction manager as well.

The monthslong saga of library officials trying to acquire the $12.4 million local match to secure a state construction grant will end next week, Coover said. She said the local match will be in the bank by Tuesday, and officials will sign the contract with the state by the June 30 deadline.

Library officials recently announced they received an additional $3.1 million from the state, raising the amount of money they could receive to $11.6 million.

But to fully fund the original expansion, the library would have to borrow up to
$1 million from a private bank. Officials said they will pay back the $3 million in private loans using fundraising, not additional tax dollars.